Gaiman Ruined Doctor Who Forever! Also you missed Morbius.
I’m not sure if you’re joking, but in case you aren’t: The Doctor isn’t and wasn’t transgender. The regeneration changes the personality, which presumably means their actual gender changes. The Doctor was never a woman in a man’s body. He was a man in a man’s body, and now she’s a woman in a woman’s body.
(Unless the 13th Doctor turns out to be a transgender male… )
I dunno, if I had 13 lifetimes and each time it wasn’t Me me, but a new personality in a new body with all the old memories, I don’t think I’d have a problem if some of the past or future personalities (which I wouldn’t necessarily think of as ‘me’) were female.
As a transchick, I’m kind of dreading
- Any stupid trans jokes they may unthinkingly attempt right at the regeneration
- Any awful, stunted, awkward attempt to explore gender identity (probably without talking to an actual transperson)
The Doctor being a woman is fine, pretty cool even, but unless they really, really think they got the writing staff for it they need to stay far away from trans stuff. As far as I’m concerned, Time Lords have fluid genders when they regenerate and suffer no dysphoria or identity distress aside from the typical finding of their own identity (and what type of gross comfort food they like) that typically happens during post-regeneration disorientation.
And, of course, the obligatory “Am I A Good Person” overarching plot we get every regeneration that’s hopefully going away with Moffat.
I don’t know whether it qualifies as “trans” stuff but I too worry that they’re going to go heavy and stupid on the “hey, I’m a woman now” material". I’m reasonably optimistic that they’ll manage to restrain themselves from the standard “Look, everyone - I’ve got girl boobies!”* joke but am less confident there won’t be moments of “I’m a lady and I like lady things!” (ironically, given the recent departure of Matt Lucas).
And even if the writers don’t put those things in, I’ll bet dollars to donuts some of the reviewers do.
- A line only Patrick Stewart can pull off successfully.
That’s the thing I’m really worried about. I will be watching with great trepidation until I’m successfully assured that there won’t be a bunch of “bras in the TARDIS” jokes. Basically, if they didn’t joke about something for the male Doctor, I hope they won’t for the female as well (and I used to cringe at some of Matt Smith’s stuff, like when he was running around naked for no good reason).
I like my Doctors sexy but sexless, thanks.
The current trailer for the upcoming Christmas episode reveals that Pearl Mackie will be back as Bill. Since there has been no announcement about a new companion, nor to my knowledge any official announcement that Bill is indeed not returning, there is a chance that she may be sticking around for the next season.
I would not mind at all if Bill sticks around, as she’s been my favorite companion for a while (despite all the bad writing from this past series). But her being a lesbian and the Doctor being a woman opens the door to a possible…
…Lovesick companion lusting for a unavailable Doctor!
(OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!)
Eh, she has a girlfriend. Heather.
Typically the new companion isn’t introduced until the first episode of the new season/series.
Clara is appearing too. It may all be flashbacks and imagined scenes, so I wouldn’t get too excited about who is in the Christmas episode.
I don’t think that bill will be making a comeback, but it would be cool if she did. She’s gotten a bit of an upgrade from the pilot, I assume she’s a bit more durable, harder to kill or trap. Useful as the doctor’s companion.
But now Bill is gender fluid.
Everything I’ve heard says Bill will not be returning past the Christmas special. I think we’re getting both a new Doctor and a new companion.
There’ve been some companions that carried over between doctors. Rose stuck around for 9-10, then amy started with 11, but clara finished 11 and was with 12.
Yes, but new companions are typically (but not always) introduced at the beginning of the season/series.
Note I said season, not new Doctor.
Just thought I’d post an update since this thread was bumped. I’m on episode ten of the first season (series) in which I guess I’ll be subjected to the last annoying, farting alien (Slitheen). There are minor issues that annoy me like the stereotyped Americans and Rose doing stupid crap (No, Rose, don’t do it! Don’t…Oh, geez.), but overall I’m really enjoying this show. Dalek is my favorite episode. I was riveted watching a pure killing machine being transformed by human DNA and eventually turning on itself because it couldn’t resolve the feelings it had.
Looks like you all recruited another fan. 
Thanks again for all your suggestions.
Y’know, they could always bring back K-9 as a companion. 
As long as you stay away from the Sarah Jane spin-off. 
Watch out for an episode called ‘Blink’. 
Snerk.
Given that they’ve recast the first Doctor with a new actor, they could always dredge up some of the long-gone companions, recast them with new actors who are the same approximate age of said characters when they left the series, and have them ‘rejoin’ the Doctor. Imagine, a whole new crew made up of Barbara, Ben, Liz, Harry…